Question

On the MSVC++ compiler, one can use the __int8, __int16, __int32 and similar types for integers with specific sizes. This is extremely useful for applications which need to work with low-level data structures like custom file formats, hardware control data structures and the like.

Is there a similar equivalent I can use on the GCC compiler?

Answer 1

ISO standard C, starting with the C99 standard, adds the standard header <stdint.h> that defines these:

uint8_t  - unsigned 8 bit int8_t   - signed 8 bit uint16_t - unsigned 16 bit int16_t  - signed 16 bit uint32_t - unsigned 32 bit int32_t  - signed 32 bit uint64_t - unsigned 64 bit int64_t  - signed 64 bit 

I use these types all the time.

These types are defined only if the implementation supports predefined types with the appropriate sizes and characteristics (which most do).

<stdint.h> also defines types with names of the form (u)int_leastN_t (types that have at least the specified width) and (u)int_fastN_t (the ‘fastest’ types that have at least the specified width); these types are mandatory.

If you’re using an old implementation that doesn’t support <stdint.h>, you can roll your own; one implementation is Doug Gwyn’s ‘q8’.